Quick opening pressure vessel



Jul 25, 1939.

H. H. NEEDHAM ET AL QUICK OPENING PRESSURE VESSEL Filed Dec. 24, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, 1939. H. H. NEEDHAM ET AL QUICK OPENING PRESSUREVESSEL Filed Dec. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M M i w W X H. 5% 1H I! I! Ion H a a 9 To: m r QM 1/, s 2 NM 9 A N\ I Q Q J W a R Patented July 25,1939 UNITED STATES QUICK OPENING PRESSURE VESSEL Howard H. Needham,Wauwatosa, and Frederick K. Zerbe, Milwaukee, Wis., assig'nors to A. 0.Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 24, 1936, Serial No. 117,464

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a quick opening pressure vessel. v

The object of the invention is to provide a pressure vessel of weldedconstruction which can withstand high pressures, and to provide a quickopening closure therefor which will allow quick access to the contentsof the vessel immediately upon the release of the pressure.

The invention has been applied in certain chemical industries in whichthe processes involved require vessels capable of withstanding apressure of from.five to ten thousand pounds per square inch.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of theinvention although it will be understood that various embodiments may beemployed within the scope of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through one end of the vessel showingthe closure; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section showing the mechanism foroperating the closure.

The vessel has a cylindrical shell I, preferably of laminatedconstruction similar to that set forth in United States Letters PatentNo. 1,925,118. One end head 2 of the vessel is formed of plate stock andwelded to the end of the shell I as by weld metal 3. The head 2 isprovided with a circumferential groove 4 on its inner surface adjacentthe weld, as set forth in Patent No. 1,921,241. Suitable openings areprovided through the head 2 for, receiving tube connections 5 for thevessel. A

A forged ring 6 is welded to the other end of shell I and is providedwith a gasket seat I at the end near its inner circumference. A flange 8extends around the, outer circumference of the ring 6.'

The closure or cover for the vessel is in two parts, an inner head 9 andan outer cover Ill. The cover i is of cup shape to receive the innerhead 9 and has a flange ll corresponding to flange 8. The inner head 9is secured to the cover l0 in the manner of a bayonet joint by a centralstud 12 which is welded to the head. A'

pin l3 secures the other end of the stud l2 in a recess H on the innersurface of the cover "I. To facilitate handling of the closure, thecover is provided with an eye l for engagement with the hook of a crane(not shown). By turning the head 9 relative to the cover in when thesame is removed from the vessel, the pin l3 may be released from therecess ll, thereby separating the parts. For independently handling thehead 9 it is provided with eye bolts l6. In service it is notv desiredto separate the parts as it is more eflicient to handle them as a singleunit.

The cover I ii is secured to the end of the vessel by means of thesemi-circular clamps H which receive the flanges 8 and II and hold thesame in opposed relation. The clamps I! are moved toward and away fromeach other to grip and release the flanges 8 and II. For this purposethe clamps I! have projections l8 at each end, the projections on oneclamp having threaded connection with the right-hand threads IS on therespective spindles 20, and the projections on the other clamp having,threaded connections with the left-hand threads 2| on the respectivespindles 20. The spindles 20 are mounted for rotation in bearings 22secured to the ring 6 and bearings 23 secured to brackets of the vessel.

The spindles are rotated by means of beveled gears 25, cross shaft 26and hand wheel 21. Rotation of the spindles 20 in one direction willeffect clamping of the flanges 8 and II, while rotation of the spindlesin the opposite direction will effect a quick release of the flanges,thereby permitting removal of the cover i0 and head 9.

For the purpose of sealing the vessel closure it is possible to utilizevarious embodiments. An eflicient construction is to provide a groove 28on the inner surface of head 9 for receiving a gasket 29 and the seat 1.The head 9 is pressed against the gasket by means of fluid pressureadmitted to the space between the head 9 and cover In through port 30 inthe cover. An extended U-shaped packing ring 3| seals the pressurebetween the head 9 and cover l0 and allows for relative axial movementbetween the two. A port 32 is provided through the cover III to connectto suitable valve means for exhausting the pressure between the head 9and cover I.

We claim: I

A pressure vessel comprising a heavy walled shell open at one end and aunitary closure adapted to seal said end, said closure comprising acover housing an axially movable head attached thereto by a bayonetjoint to permit said axial movement of the head in said cover and permitdisengagement therefrom, said head having a gasket seat adapted tocooperate with a gasket seat on the open-end of the shell, a gasketinterposed between said seats, a chamber between the head and cover inwhich fluid may be applied, a gasket between said head and cover toprevent the fluid from escaping from said chamber, and means forretaining said cover on said shell.

HOWARD n. NEEDHAM. mnnnnrcx K. znana.

